The vice president of the local Fraternal Order of Police said the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is under siege by ruthless "predators" who sense vulnerability in the short-handed department, and he asserted that a more aggressive policing approach is necessary.

Rick Snyder said community policing and outreach is a laudatory goal with a fully staffed department but it's a luxury IMPD can't afford right now.

"We've got to get back to basics," Snyder said. "The days of being nice are over. It is the Wild West out there. People are getting shot all over the city. We've got to be firm and aggressively combat this."

Snyder said the morale of officers is being taxed.

"As an officer your goal is to go out there every day with a high level of morale," Snyder said. "But you need resources. We are asking them to take on life-altering work with one hand tied behind their backs."

Snyder said violence in the street is as bad as it's ever been.

"Without question society is different, much more violent," Snyder said.

"There is evil out there that will always fill a vacuum," Snyder said. "A predator senses weakness, and it moves in. The criminal element knows there is a less-visible police presence, and we are in a compromised position."

1:50 p.m. update:

When Carol Stone stepped out onto her back porch Saturday night, something about the calm in the air gave her the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Without giving it too much thought, she closed the door and went back inside to continue watching "Star Wars" with her two sons, ages 12 and 24.

Roughly 10 minutes later, bullets tore through the living room of Stone's home in the 3300 block of Lake Manor Avenue, narrowly missing her and her children.

"A big boom came through our side door. I could tell it was a gunshot, and my son asked, 'Mommy, why did somebody break our window?'" Stone said. "It missed us by an inch. … We came an inch away from getting killed."

On the morning after the fatal shooting that left veteran IMPD Officer Perry Renn dead and the suspect in the fatal shooting, 25-year-old Major Davis Jr., critically wounded, the squad cars and police tape so noticeable just hours before were gone.

But signs of the fatal gun battle remained.

Bullet holes marked the siding of two homes in the southwest corner of 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.

The tattered remains of police tape stripped from the scene slowly flapped in the wind.

A blue paramedic's glove sat in the dirt near an aging chain-link fence where Stone said she saw Renn's body once the bullets stopped flying.

"I grabbed my phone, told my sons to put their shoes on and keep their heads down … and I called the police," Stone said. "The dispatcher told me the police officer had been shot. That's when I came to the front and I peeked around and saw him on the ground. It really shook me up. We didn't really sleep last night."

DeMarr Lewis said he has close friends living on Forest Manor Avenue, just a short walk from where the shooting took place.

He stopped by the neighborhood this morning to make sure everyone was OK, he said.

"I saw it on the news and my heart skipped, man," Lewis said. "I heard so many stories and rumors flying about what happened. I just had to see for myself and come check on my people."

Lewis said although he is thrilled that none of his loved ones was harmed in the incident, seeing this kind of violence in his hometown is frustrating.

"We don't need this. And when this (stuff) happens, it makes it worse for everyone else," he said. "We're afraid, so we lash out. The cops (are) afraid, so they do it, too. A lot of people are gonna end up dead before it's over."

Stone's side door now has a cardboard sign over it advising visitors not to knock or enter that way. Under the sign is the broken glass shattered by stray bullets.

Stone said she now has four bullet holes in one of her closets to remind her of how close she came to being seriously hurt.

"We've lived here 27 years, and it wasn't that bad 27 years ago. In the last decade it has really escalated," she said. "last year … I saw two people shooting at each other like a western. Blood was everywhere and they were shooting at each other. I really want to move."

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Perry Renn was shot to death on the night of July 5, 2014. (Photo: IMPD)

IMPD Police Chief Rick Hite , right, and IMPD Staff Chaplain David Coatie swear in seven-year-old Rilen Hazelwood as a junior police officer while his mom Ashley Hazelwood watches after he gave a condolence card to Hite and his staff on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The conference talked about the need for more police officers and the community to step up and help at the IMPD North District after the death of fellow officer Perry Renn. (Photo: Matt Detrich/The Star)

Tina Dodson of Indianapolis says a prayer for IMPD officer Perry Renn and his family after she and her three-year-old grandson Isaiah Lopez placed an angel on his patrol car at the IMPD North District on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (Photo: Matt Detrich/The Star)

Scott Herald of Greenfield, along with his son Dakota Herald, 10, and daughter Arianna Herald, 2, place a card on the patrol car of fallen IMPD officer Perry Renn at the IMPD North District on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (Photo: Matt Detrich/The Star)

An American flag flies in the pre-storm breeze at the American Legion Mall downtown, Monday morning, July 7, 2014. IMPD officer Perry Renn was killed in the line of duty Saturday night, July 5, 2014. (Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/The Star)

The patrol car of Perry Renn, at IMPD's North District, two days after his death after being in a gunfight near the corner of east 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue, Indianapolis, Monday, July 7, 2014. (Photo: Robert Scheer/The Star)

IMPD chief Rick Hite,right, and Director of Public safety Troy Riggs talk about the shooting death of IMPD officer Perry Renn over the weekend during a press conference Monday morning at the IMPD training facility on Post Road. Matt Kryger / The Star (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

An officer photographs the patrol car of Perry Renn, at IMPD's North District, two days after his death after being in a gunfight near the corner of east 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue, Indianapolis, Monday, July 7, 2014. (Photo: Robert Scheer/The Star)

Director of Public safety Troy Riggs and IMPD chief Rick Hite,left, talk about the shooting death of IMPD officer Perry Renn over the weekend during a press conference Monday morning at the IMPD training facility on Post Road. Matt Kryger / The Star (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here,a recruit officer in IMPD's 9th Recruit Class kneels and says a prayer July 6 in front of Renn's squad car as it sits in front of the IMPD North District headquarters, 3120 E. 30th St. (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here, Aynna LaMar, 7, lays flowers on Renn's squad car as it sit in front of the IMPD North District Headquarters. (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Ave Saturday night. Here Kellen Birdgeforth lays flowers on the office Renn's squad car as it sit in front of the IMPD North District Headquarters. (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

Dustin Bigler, of Indianapolis, lays a flag on the hood of a squad car at a memorial set up for IMPD officer Perry Renn at theIMPD North District headquartersinWashington Park on Sunday, July 6, 2014. Bigler's parents are both in the Marion County Sheriff's Department and he is training to be an EMT, so the loss of another officer hit close to home, he said. (Photo: Anna Reed/The Star Anna Reed/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed behind a home July 5, 2014, near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Notes and flowers are part of a memorial display featuring the patrol car of Perry at the IMPD North District headquarters, 3120 E. 30th St. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here, people visit a memorial with Renn's squad car in front of the IMPD North District headquarters. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here, a boy visits a memorial with Renn's squad car in front of the IMPD North District headquarters. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

Jacob Laffey (from left), 17, Jarrod Laffey, 16, Melissa Laffey and Tracy Combs, all of Indianapolis, place flowers and a balloon at a memorial set up for officer Perry Renn at theIMPD North District headquartersin Washington Park on July 6, 2014. (Photo: Anna Reed/The Star Anna Reed/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here, people visit a memorial with Renn's squad car in front of the IMPD North District headquarters. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

Dustin Bigler (left) is comforted by IMPD Staff Chaplain Rick Kassel at a memorial set up for officer Perry Renn at theIMPD North District headquartersinWashington Park on July 6, 2014. Bigler's parents are both in the Marion County Sheriff's Department and he is training to be an EMT, so the loss of another officer hit close to home, he said. (Photo: Anna Reed/The Star Anna Reed/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed July 5, 2014, behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. Here, Indianapolis police officers on July 6, 2014, view a memorial display featuring the patrol car of Perry at the IMPD North District headquarters, 3120 E. 30th St. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

Law enforcement vehicles are parked on Forest Manor Avenue south of 34th Street. It is near the spotwhere an IMPD officer died after a gun battle in an alley off Forest Manor Avenue south of 34th Street on July 5, 2014. (Photo: Joe Vitti/The Star)

Law enforcement personnel gather across the street from the alley off Forest Manor Ave. south of 34th Street where an IMPD officer died after a gun battle in the alley Saturday July 5, 2014. (Photo: Joe Vitti/The Star)

IMPD officer Perry Renn was shot and killed behind a home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue. The window of Carol Stone's door was shot out by stray bullets. On July 6, 2014, the door was covered in tape and sign. The shooting occurred next to Stone's home on Forest Manor Avenue. (Photo: Matt Kryger/The Star)

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

12:09 p.m. update: Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have released new information about the events leading up to the shooting death of veteran patrolman Perry Renn.

Police say Renn was shot last night by Major Davis Jr., 25, at 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.

Based on statements from witnesses, Renn was the second officer to respond to a report of shots fired in the area at 9:23 p.m. Saturday. The first officer, police said, arrived and was approached by "an obviously upset" Davis.

Officials say Davis refused to follow orders from that officer to show his hands and walked away into a small yard on East 34th Street. When Renn arrived, he and the other officer saw an assault rifle in Davis' hand. They requested more backup.

As a third officer was getting out of his patrol car, several shots were heard, police said. By the time the third officer arrived at a nearby alleyway, both Renn and Davis were down.

Renn became a member of the Indianapolis Police Department on Dec. 27, 1993. He worked as a street patrol officer his entire career and was awarded the Medal of Bravery in 2003. Renn also received a Letter of Commendation in 2012 for his efforts during the 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse.

Neighbor Carol Stone talks about shooting of IMPD veteran patrolman Perry Renn that took place next to her home near 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.
Matt Kryger / The Star

Earlier: For the second time in less than a year, top Indianapolis officials gathered at a hospital to make a grim announcement: a police officer had been slain in a gun battle.

"Tonight we are here because we have lost one of our own," Hite said. "Perry Renn was a very fine and courageous officer."

Renn and two other officers responded to a report of shots fired at 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue at 9:23 p.m. When they arrived, police said, the officers encountered Major Davis Jr., 25, who was brandishing an assault rifle. The police and Davis exchanged gunfire for three to five minutes. Davis was struck and critically wounded.

Both he and Renn were rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, where Renn died at 9:58 p.m. and Davis was in critical condition. The other two officers at the scene were uninjured. Davis, who underwent surgery, faces a preliminary charge of murder.

The gunfire capped one of the most violent days in recent memory. Earlier, police brass had gathered in Broad Ripple, where seven people were shot and wounded, one critically, after two men opened fire on each other following late-night Fourth of July celebrations. In that incident police with first aid kits rushed into the chaos and attended to the wounded.

Hite noted the irony.

"Our officers less than 24 hours ago were attending to the wounded citizens of this city," Hite said, shaking his head. "What are we going to do about people in the community who … welcome us with assault weapons when we are sending out officers who are trying to protect them?"

The Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Rick Snyder said Renn was "heroic," not just last night, but his whole career.

"For 20 years he did his job for the citizens and for the city," Snyder said. "He put on a badge and went to work knowing the risks. Unfortunately, he is not going home tonight and a family is ruined."

Riggs said Renn was the eighth officer to be shot in 1 ½ years. Another 22 have been shot at

"The officer was attacked tonight but the city of Indianapolis was also attacked tonight," he said Saturday. "He laid down his life for the citizens that he served."

"This is a time to grieve and we want to send our hearts out for the family of Officer Renn," said Ballard, who was battling laryngitis.

City-County Councilor Ben Hunter, a former Indianapolis police officer, said he briefly worked with Renn.

"I didn't know him well but he had a great reputation as a courageous officer, so I knew about him," Hunter said.

Hunter said the situation Renn found himself in was routine on the rough Eastside.

"These types of runs happen so often and it makes you realize we are only inches away from tragedy," Hunter said. "You know the possibility is there, but every time it happens it is surreal and it kicks you in the gut."

Bradway, a five-year veteran of the department, was fatally shot Sept. 20 by a man holding a woman hostage. Moments later, a second officer killed the man. The woman and her child were uninjured.

And this year, just over a month ago, another IMPD officer was wounded in a gunbattle with a suspect.

Officer Greg Milburn was spared serious injury because the rounds hit his bullet-resistant vest on May 30.

Milburn arrived at a home in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood just moments after a suspect had killed two women. He shot and killed Quintico Goolsby, 36, outside the house in the 2600 block of North Dearborn Street, police said.